My Tour: Sgt. Phillip Elgie in Afghanistan

In May 2009, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment deployed to Afghanistan as part of a multinational effort to quell a revitalized insurgency in the country’s volatile south. For the next 9 months, 1st Battalion - nicknamed "Geronimo" - conducted counterinsurgency operations in the mud-brick villages and lush fields of Helmand Province, where a major Taliban offensive was underway. Sgt. Phillip Elgie, a U.S. Marine Corps combat cameraman, was on the ground to document the deployment. This is his story.

If you've served in a conflict zone and want to contribute to Maxim's "My Tour" series, drop us an email.